Film · 2000
Scary Movie
A loving, gag-packed spoof of the big slasher films, following friends who cover up an accident and get hunted by someone in a mask a year on.
Keenen Ivory Wayans took the slasher formula and turned it inside out for this one, and the result is less "hide behind a cushion" and more "howl with laughter at the person hiding behind the sofa instead." A group of friends cover up an accident, swear to keep quiet about it, and then spend the following year being stalked by someone in a mask who has clearly seen the same films we have.
Every slasher trope gets sent up here: the false jump scares, the terrible decision to investigate a noise alone, the killer who somehow gets everywhere first. It knows exactly what it is spoofing and never lets you forget it, which is half the fun.
This is one for a night with company, ideally people who talk through films and don't mind being told off for it (I'll allow it just this once). It is not going to keep you up at night, but it will make you laugh at the genre you love a little too much.
If you like this, try
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A group of teenagers are hunted in their dreams by Freddy Krueger, an undead killer bent on revenge.
American Psycho
A Wall Street banker's polished image hides a serial killer in this black comedy horror satire of 1980s excess.
Carrie
A shy, bullied teenage girl discovers she has telekinetic powers, with devastating results.
Donnie Darko
A teenager survives a bizarre accident, then a figure in a rabbit costume tells him the world has 28 days left.